NR Anna Baby #4 -Daniel has been born

[SolomonFundy]

33 minutes ago, HermioneSparrow said:

New post up. I know I might snark too much on the Maxweirdos but isn't Mary the most creative and talented evaaaa? Cause that sign is not... Ummm... That cute? I'm a teacher I can make and guide those kids into doing something way better.

Well, at least that pic of Ruthie with her lil brother is ADORABLE. She is so cute I think she might compete with Bradley Bates as the cutest fundie kiddo.

Ruthie is precious. She and Christina have that squinty-grin down pat, and it's adorable.

Mary's sign just looks like a hurried, last-minute gesture to me. Her art isn't bad for her age, but her best pieces are the obvious result of literally days of work. I'm guessing (based on Sarah's remarks) that Anna Marie went into labor much sooner than anyone expected, and Mary probably didn't have much time to pull together the sign. These aren't people that thrive outside of their regularly scheduled programming. 

[mango_fandango]

1 hour ago, SolomonFundy said:

Ruthie is precious. She and Christina have that squinty-grin down pat, and it's adorable.

Mary's sign just looks like a hurried, last-minute gesture to me. Her art isn't bad for her age, but her best pieces are the obvious result of literally days of work. I'm guessing (based on Sarah's remarks) that Anna Marie went into labor much sooner than anyone expected, and Mary probably didn't have much time to pull together the sign. These aren't people that thrive outside of their regularly scheduled programming. 

Yup. Labour is one thing you cannot control, unless you go for an elective C-section, which I really don't see fundies doing (seeing as many of them are all about the natural homebirthing shebang.)

[darkplumaged]

Ruthie is unbearably cute.

"Anna Marie is an incredible girl and loves her babies"--what, because most mothers don't?  

[nelliebelle1197]

On July 5, 2016 at 4:22 PM, tabitha2 said:

I think they all favor her hugely so far. The ABC girls and Drew got the  monopoly on Max Genes   

Nathan's kids look just like Melanie and her family. No Maxwell visible at all.

I find NR-Anna's kids not cute while Melanie's are adorable. I probably wouldn't think about it at all except that ABCD are so adorable.

[fundiefan]

Ruthie and Lydia are the most adorable little girls. I know all kids are cute, and all deserve the same opportunities in life, but I look at those little faces and see such awesomeness that it makes me extra sad about the lives they're going to live. The spunk, sparkly eyes and pure adorableness will too soon be snuffed out of them. 

[nelliebelle1197]

On July 7, 2016 at 10:24 AM, WonderingInWA said:

But they're blanket-trained, so mustn't they also be MATTRESS-trained?  They probably don't move at all in their sleep!  Just kidding -- bunk beds for kids that age aren't safe!  

Do the Maxwells blanket train? I am not sure they do!

On July 7, 2016 at 5:31 PM, ladyamylynn said:

Ok the picture of little Drew with the baby is actually really cute. Somebody please slap me immediately!

I think Melanie's kids are beautiful. No harm in that  

[WonderingInWA]

2 minutes ago, nelliebelle1197 said:

Do the Maxwells blanket train? I am not sure they do!

Melanie definitely does as it's been featured on a blog.  Don't know for sure about NR-Anna and Elissa.  It's all about Ezzo's parenting methods which are heavily weighted on scheduling of everything, and whose teachings probably inspired the Maxwell's scheduling gig products.

[nelliebelle1197]

3 hours ago, fundiefan said:

Ruthie and Lydia are the most adorable little girls. I know all kids are cute, and all deserve the same opportunities in life, but I look at those little faces and see such awesomeness that it makes me extra sad about the lives they're going to live. The spunk, sparkly eyes and pure adorableness will too soon be snuffed out of them. 

I don't think so with those two but that is how I feel about Melanie's kids so I get you.

9 minutes ago, WonderingInWA said:

Melanie definitely does as it's been featured on a blog.  Don't know for sure about NR-Anna and Elissa.  It's all about Ezzo's parenting methods which are heavily weighted on scheduling of everything, and whose teachings probably inspired the Maxwell's scheduling gig products.

h- Ezzo. I was only connecting to Pearl and know there is not love lost there!

Do you remember when this was featured! I must take note so my soft spot for Nathan and Melanie crops up!  

[WonderingInWA]

Sorry, I do not remember but it was quite some time ago!  I just tried to do a search on their site for "blanket" and got no results.  Hmmm, guessing their search function isn't quite up to par!

 

[littlehouse]

Where is Lydia?  There is a Lydia isn't there?

[OnceUponATime]

3 hours ago, nelliebelle1197 said:

Do you remember when this was featured! I must take note so my soft spot for Nathan and Melanie crops up!  

This blogpost http://articles.titus2.com/second-generation-scheduling/ states:

Quote

Abigail has twenty minutes in the morning schedule called blanket time. For this, Melanie puts a blanket on the living room floor with several toys on it. Abigail is to play on the blanket alone with the toys but not get off the blanket. <snip>

It's just under halfway down the post.

[silverspoons]

1 hour ago, OnceUponATime said:

This blogpost http://articles.titus2.com/second-generation-scheduling/ states:

It's just under halfway down the post.

I know a few people who use the Maxwell's scheduling but I had never seen a baby/toddler scheduled. That post was so sad. While I admit structure can be good but that much for a 1 yr old?  I had a neighbor that had twins the same day I had my son and she and her husband where at demanding points in their careers (twins were a surprise). She was super organized and scheduled. The food was prepared the night before , the clothes were planned out for the week, the toys were rotated in big tubs by days of the week, and the day was pretty scheduled (mainly so the parents could spend awake time with the kids). I remember lunch was 11:30-12 , playtime 12-2pm, and nap 2-3:30. This was strictly followed but the difference was the mom wanted , actually begged me to bring my same age son over to play and socialize. We would sit on the couch and talk watching the kids play but at 2pm , even if they were having fun, it was nap time for her kids. I respected her need for a schedule but at least there was fun, toys, socializing (for kids and adults) involved. I look back and my kids ate a few less vegetables , played a little longer and missed a few naps but the outcome really isn't that much different looking at them years later.

 

I didn't know the Maxwell's used that baby potty training? I never quite understood why someone would go through so much work and stress. Do they want to save money on diapers? My first child I did normal potty training and remembered the stress of finding bathrooms at stores and accidents. When my daughter was ready since she was a born early, I talked to the doctor and he said her muscle control would not be ready till closer to 3. My only concern was getting into a good preschool if she still had a pull up. I waited till 39 months and she was told me she was ready and that was it. No accidents, no stress for me or her , all in one afternoon. Sure I spent a few hundred dollars more on pull ups but not only was it less stress on me but my daughter was never frustrated or upset. She was happy and truly ready. Looking at the Maxwell schedule of Abby's day, it seems so stressful for Melanie and then add in the infant potty training.

 

I'm also on team Melanie Pregnant. My daughter looked at the pictures and said, when is the other sister having her baby and pointed to Melanie.

 

So was Daniel 2 weeks early? I know the Maxwell's don't tell do dates, but the baby update on June 24th said hopefully we have 1 month to go.

[Foudeb]

I read that entire post and omg the mind-numbing boringness of it all.

I really do hope that schedule is for when the in-laws come around and the rest of the time was more spontaneous - as in the weather's nice this morning, let's go to the park, or spur of the moment let's organise a play-date.

[nelliebelle1197]

1 hour ago, OnceUponATime said:

This blogpost http://articles.titus2.com/second-generation-scheduling/ states:

It's just under halfway down the post.

You know what, I remember this now. Thanks, kids, for the reminder! I have been numbed by the lack of variety in the last few years of Maxhell...

[Jana814]

9 minutes ago, Foudeb said:

I read that entire post and omg the mind-numbing boringness of it all.

I really do hope that schedule is for when the in-laws come around and the rest of the time was more spontaneous - as in the weather's nice this morning, let's go to the park, or spur of the moment let's organise a play-date.

I don't think any of the Maxwell grandchildren have play dates with other kids. 

[ncb]

As time goes on I am even more convinced Melanie is pregnant. If many of us think she looks pregnant then many of the blog commenters must also (in posts that weren't approved and/or edited by Stevie). Knowing Sarah, if Melanie weren't pregnant, she would have addresses that in the comments already.

[WonderingInWA]

1 hour ago, nelliebelle1197 said:

You know what, I remember this now. Thanks, kids, for the reminder! I have been numbed by the lack of variety in the last few years of Maxhell...

Reading all that again just makes me cringe.  So structured and never enough time to enjoy anything before it's time to clean up and move to the next activity.  I wonder how well that's all working for them now that they have 4 kids?

If you read enough Ezzo, he also advocates scheduled nursing.  I had a friend in a mothering group I was a part of many years ago who followed it.  She was foot loose and fancy free to meet up with all of us other nursing moms because she left her nursing babe at home (this went on for years and 2 more nursing babes for her).  She wasn't pumping, she was just delaying feedings. The babies got fed at her convenience and based on her schedule. I always felt sad for her babies.

 

[princessmahina]

The Maxwell schedule makes the Shupes look even more hard core. If I remember correctly, there was no "playing with Erika" time and children weren't allowed to get up early from naps. 

[CyborgKin]

On 07/07/2016 at 1:28 PM, FloraKitty35 said:

"Anna Marie is an incredible girl and loves her babies."    (that line irritates me) I hate to break it to Sarah, but Anna Marie isn't a girl. 

I guess this is novel to Sarah, given the primary example of Teri.

[FloraDoraDolly]

9 hours ago, jiggleromp said:

Where is Lydia?  There is a Lydia isn't there?

Yes, there is a Lydia, but she is rarely featured on the blog. We mostly see her in group photos, or else from a distance.

[RoseWilder]

On 7/8/2016 at 6:29 PM, SolomonFundy said:

AND SO MUCH MORE!!1!!!11!!

* Baby dangling in a gauze sling like dice from a rearview mirror

* Baby folded into a tight ball like a frozen turkey and supported between mom and dad's hands

* Baby teased into an improbable posture of deep thought with its noodle arms supporting its giant newborn head

* Baby clinging like a gecko to the strong manly arm of its father

* Baby trying to sleep with furrowed brow as at least one female sibling is forcibly made to kiss him in mock adoration

* Baby tucked into the reluctant arms of his brother, because THAT'S HIS FUTURE BEST FRIEND

* Bonus soft-focus photoshop that makes everything look like a 1970's Swedish porno

 

NOW WITH 49% MORE PASTEL BLUE ARTIFICIALLY INSERTED INTO A BLACK AND WHITE SHOT!!11!!1!

How about baby dressed up like he's practicing his father's profession and hobbies. My cousin did that. She dressed her baby up in firefighter gear and then all did a hunting themed picture. Because, of course, baby MUST have all the same interests as his Dad.  Firefighter & hunting themed baby shower, newborn photos, nursery, clothing, etc. Every. Single. Thing. MUST line up with his father's interests. 

I don't think people in the Cult of Steve are allowed to have any hobbies other than reading the Bible and worshiping Steve (not sure how that would work in picture form) so that leaves Christopher's job. What does he do again?

 

 

[Melissa1977]

16 hours ago, ncb said:

As time goes on I am even more convinced Melanie is pregnant. If many of us think she looks pregnant then many of the blog commenters must also (in posts that weren't approved and/or edited by Stevie). Knowing Sarah, if Melanie weren't pregnant, she would have addresses that in the comments already.

Probably Melanie and Elissa. 

12 hours ago, FloraDoraDolly said:

Yes, there is a Lydia, but she is rarely featured on the blog. We mostly see her in group photos, or else from a distance.

I wonder if she cries a lot. There must be a reason she's rarely on pictures.

15 hours ago, princessmahina said:

The Maxwell schedule makes the Shupes look even more hard core. If I remember correctly, there was no "playing with Erika" time and children weren't allowed to get up early from naps. 

I highly doubt Maxwell kids are allowed to get up earlier than scheduled.

Baby Schedules must be VERY flexible. If not,  babies suffer. Hungry babies suffer. Babies crying and not being held suffer. Toddlers with no free play time, they also suffer.

Abusing babies is not only hitting them. 

[RoseWilder]

@Coconut Flan: Sorry about the triple post last night. My computer did some crazy thing while I was trying to post, and then I couldn't get this site to load again to get back on. 

[usmcmom]

Regarding the scheduling post linked above; this, for some reason, made me very sad:

Quote

 Abigail drinks a small bottle and then cuddles on Melanie for ten minutes.

I just picture Melanie sitting on the couch literally watching the clock so that Abigail gets no more cuddling than she has scheduled.  It is just so sad to me that these people actually SCHEDULE affection. 

I didn't have a schedule when I raised my kids but I did have a routine; meaning they knew what was going to happen each day and in what basic order those things occurred. I did do meals, snacks and naps on a schedule (and those could be flexible depending on our day) but not play time or cuddle time.  If I had planned to mop the kitchen floor that day but our trip to the library ended with extra exciting books, we might read longer than I expected.  And if my babies fell asleep on my lap as we read; heck, I actually would sit there and rock them for an hour or so, just enjoying being close to my babies.  So, maybe the floor did not get mopped, after all.  I know, I'm probably going straight to hell for that, but I will go there knowing I actually liked my own children. 

Do these people actually enjoy their children?  Do they cherish them at all? 

[HermioneSparrow]

37 minutes ago, usmcmom said:

Do these people actually enjoy their children?  Do they cherish them at all? 

Nope, that's not godly in the cult of Steve.